Programming mechanism for a reproduction machine



A ril 2, 1968 3,375,782

PROGRAMMING MECHANISM FOR A REPRODUCTION MACHINE J. .1. GR|M M ETAL l5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. '30, 1965 L L w mMM n MIR N RT VG m N QT.llvD ,4 S EM M A MH M April 2, 1968 .1. J. GRIMM ETAL 3,375,732

PROGRAMMING MECHANISM FOR A REPRODUCTION MACHINE Filed Sept. 50, 1965 15Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. JAMES J. GRIMM B HAROLD E, TRUMBULL April 2,1968 J. .1. GRIMM ETAL 3,375,782

PROGRAMMING MECHANISM FOR A REPRODUCTION MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledSept. 30, 1965 .wwm NR mum m m w WMW 7 m.

April 2, 1968 J. .1. GRIMM ETAL 3,375,732

PROGRAMMING MECHANISM FOR A REPRODUCTION MACHINE Filed Sept. 30, 1965 15Sheets-Sheet 4 MOT-l 50 o Q: o Q /\74 L mx 2'2 INVENTORS. JAMES J. GRIMMApril 2, 1968 .1. J. GRlMM ETAL 3,375,782

PROGRAMMING MECHANISM FOR A REPRODUCTION MACHINE Filed Sept. 30, 1965 15Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS. JAMES J. GRIMM BY HAROLD E. TRUMBIULL April 2,1968 J. J. GRIMM ETAL 3,375,782

PROGRAMMING IIEECHANISM FOR A REPRODUCTION MACHINE Filed Sept. 30, 196515 Sheets-Sheet 6 ILS FIG. 5

INVENTORS. JAMES J. GRIMM HAROLD E. TRUMBULL ATTORNEYS April 2, 1968 J.J. GRIMM ETAL PROGRAMMING MECHANISM FOR A REPRODUCTION MACHINE l5Sheets-$heet 7 Filed Sept. 30, 1965 ILS . L m w. W O B EL TMMW MN m hNRT 7 4 Jd/ 4 mm w i AA 1 J B 7 6 H April 2, 1968 J. J. GRIMM ETALPROGRAMMING MECHANISM FOR A REPRODUCTION MACHINE l5 Sheets5heet FiledSept. 30, 1965 INVENTORS.

J. J. GRIMM ETAL April 2, 1968 PROGRAMMING MECHANISM FOR A REPRODUCTIONMACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept. 30, 1965 INVENTORS. GRIMM JAMES J.

ROLD E. TRUMBULL A BY April 2, 1968 J. J. GRIMM ETAL PROGRAMMINGMECHANISM FOR A REPRODUCTION MACHINE Filed Sept. 30, 1965 15Sheets-Sheet 10 FIG. /0

H BY u S m w m mM 5 EM N NRT &0 In J /A w n MA J .1. .1. GRIMM ETAL3,375,782

15 Sheets-Sheet l 1 a 2 L Z J ,2, m w I 4 M o B i m l 5 EMU l VMR L 2 muG..E M mm/ v MR w L 1 MM M F B Aprii 2, 1968 PROGRAMMING MECHANISM FOR AREPRODUCTION MACHINE Filed Sept.- 30, 1965 April 2, 1968 J. .1. GRIMMETAL 3,375,782

PROGRAMMING MECHANISM'FOR A REPRODUCTION MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 3.2

Filed sept. 30, 1965 INVENTORS. JAMES J. GRIMM HAROLD E. TRUMBULL K01? ATOR/V April 2, 1968 J. J. GRIMM ETAL PROGRAMMING MECHANISM FOR AhEPhODUCTION MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 113 Filed Sept. 30, 1965 INVENTORS.JAMES J. GRIMM BY HAROLD E.TRUMBlULL q il rofifi/ffs April 2, 1968 J. J.GRIMM ETAL 3,375,782

PROGRAMMING MECHANISM FOR A REPRODUCTION MACHINE Filed Sept. 30, 1965 15Sheets-Sheet l4.

l20v. sow

ILS

. o INVENTORS. \T JAMES J. GRIMM BY AROLD E.TRUM'BULL Q AZAAQ FIG. 25 zfiafim April 2, 1968 J. .1. GRlMM ETAL 3,375,782

PROGRAMMING MECHANISM FOR A REPRODUCTION MACHINE Filed Sept. 50, 1965 1sSheets-Sheet 1s INVENTORS. JAMES J. GRIMM BY AROLD E.TRUMBULL m 4&4

/2 u 4mm. ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,375,782 PROGRAMMING MECHANISMFOR A REPRODUCTION MACHINE James J. Grimm and Harold E. Trumbull,Columbus,

Ohio, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Xerox Corpzorzktion,Rochester, N.Y., a corporation (of New Filed Sept. 30, 1965, Ser. No.491,563 8 Claims. (Cl. 101-132) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pressuretransfer reproduction machine for transferring ink from one sheet toanother including a rotatable drum having a paper gripper thereon and aprogramming mechanism for controlling the operation of paper grippersincluding a device for opening the grippers allowing the insertion of atransfer sheet and for closing thereof to grip the transfer sheet and asecond device for opening the gripper for releasing the transfer sheet.

The present invention relates to reproduction machines and moreparticularly to a programming mechanism for controlling the operation ofa reproduction such as the pressure transfer type.

Generally, reproduction machines of the pressure transfer configurationwhich are particularly suited as an environment for the presentinvention are two broad types.

One type, known as a spirit duplicator, requires a copying fluid orsipirit which moistens each .copy sheet as it passes between arota-tableplaten which supports a master or transfer sheet and a pressure roller.The spirit dissolves some of the dye on the master sheet, and theresultant dissolved dyestuff is transferred to the copy sheet as it istransported between therollers.

Another .type of pressure transfer duplicating equipment combines theeffect of heat and pressure to effect transfer from a transfer sheet toa copy sheet. This type of equipment may take various forms andmaterials such as the use of fixing compositions for the dyes imprintedupon a master sheet wherein heat is utilized to cause or enhancereaction between the dye and the fixing composition. Specialcircuits andtemperature control devices are provided in these duplicating machinesfor insuring optimum transfer conditions.

Significantly, the present invention takes on added importance in thatit may be devised in a reproduction machine-having compact size,requiring a minimum of operative steps, involving a completely dryprocess and which may be quickly brought intooperation by the mere pushof a button. With these advantages, the machine, incorporating theinvention, is particularly useful as a companion machine to theconventional typewriter, to be made a part of or an adjacent neighborthereto and serve to eliminate the need to make carbon copies by use ofthe typewriter. In fact, the machine, incorporating the presentinvention, derives its most useful benefit in that reproduction .of atyped original document may be ac complished solely by the machine, thuseliminating the cumbersome application of carbon paper to the typewriter and the burdensome manipulation of the carbon sheets in order toeffect erasures of t-hecarbon sheets and correction to the original.

It is a principal object of the present invention to improve theprogramming mechanism which is used to control the operation of anoflice reproduction machine.

Another object of the invention is to .operatively program and control acomplete cycle on stage .of a cycle of a pressure transfer typereproduction machine.

3,375,782 Patented Apr. 2, 1968 Still another object of the invention isto efiect programmed operation for the insertion of ,a transfer sheet tothe reproduction machine and removal of the trans fer' sheet from thereproduction machine produced by the typwriter.

In order to accomplish these and other objects of the invention, thereis provided a programming mechanism in a reproducing machine of the typewhich operates under a dry process requiring merely the application ofpressure in order to effect transfer of information on an originaldocument to ordinary copy paper. Any other suitable reproduction machinemay be utilized with the present invention. The reproducing machine thatwill by described in association with the presentinvention comprises arotatable drum for supporting therearound first a transfer sheet and anoriginal document and then the transfer sheet and sheet of copy paper. Aroller may also be provided and arranged to be in pressure contact withthe drum by means of a force producing mechanism for effecting inktransfer. Each revolution of the drum is adapted to complete onereproduction of theoriginal document and a counter mechanism is setintomotion in cooperation with a programmer device in order to registerindividual copies being produced. There are included in the machinemeans for driving the drum, guide means and registering means forinsuring accurate feeding and movement of the various sheets into andthrough the machine, and paper clamping devices, under control of theprogrammer device, for controlling the movement or release of thesheets.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent after reading thefollowing description when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a right hand perspective view of the reproducing machine whichembodies the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a right hand perspective view of the reproduction machine withthe covers removed, and acounter added;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the machine;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the achine taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the drum and pressure roller in peripheralcontact to emphasize the crowned configuration to the roller;

FIG. 6 is a right hand end view of the machine with parts broken away;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the machine taken along. the line 7-7 inFIG. 3 with parts broken away;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view oftthe machine taken along the line 8-8 inFIG. 3 with parts broken away;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view .of the machine taken along line 99 in FIG. 3with parts broken away;

FIGURE 10 is a left-hand view of the machine with parts broken away;

FIGURE 11 is a front view of the drum with parts broken away;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional viewtaken along line 1212 in FIGURE 11 withparts broken away;

FIGURE 13 ,is a sectional viewof the drum taken along line 13 13 .inFIGURE 11 with parts broken away;

FIGURE 14 is a top view of the transfer sheet grippers;

FIGURE 15 is a side view .of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a schematic illustration of the relationship of thetransfer material, an original, and the structure used in cooperationtherewith;

FIGURES 17, 18, .19, and 20 are enlarged fragmentary views of theinventions various positions of operation;

FIGURES 21, 22, 23, and 24 are schematic views of portions of theprogrammer mechanism shown in various positions of operation;

FIGURE 25 is a schematic view of a portion of the drive mechanism in oneposition of operation; and

FIGURE 26 is a schematic electrical wiring diagram of the disclosedreproduction machine.

The reproducing machine to be described herein is particularly adaptedfor printing out copies on ordinary copy paper by means of a pressuretransfer process involving a master 'or'transfer sheet material producedas the first operative step in the use of the reproduction machine or ofany particular run of'the machine. The master or transfer sheet, inturn, derives or acquires the information to be reproduced from anoriginal produced independently of the reproducing machine, such forexample, by typing with a conventional typewriter.

In order to devise a transfer sheet that is usable with the presentmachine, the ink or pigment presented upon the transfer sheet must betransferable by the application of relatively high pressure. Productionof the transfer sheet maybe accomplished by two methods:

(a) The direct method wherein the transfer sheet is typed along with theoriginal and a sheet of special carbon paper is positioned behind thetransfer sheet with the carbon ink facing the master, and

(b) The indirect method wherein the informational image is formed bytyping with a special typing ribbon onto the original from which theimage is transferred to a transfer sheet under pressure. The presentreproduction machine is adapted to accommodate a transfer sheet producedby either method; however, it is preferred that the indirect method beemployed since this method would not involve the added manipulativesteps with a typewriter, that is, arranging an'original, a carbon sheetand transfer sheet material in a typewriter and insuring adequatealignment of these sheets relative to one another. Essentially, theindirect method involves single-sheet typing. 1

In the indirect method, the master sheet is generally made of wax paperwhich may be wax coated base stock paper, whereas in the direct method,the transfer sheet need not be wax coated. The ink formulation foreither the ribbon in the indirect method or the carbon paper in thedirect may include a small percentage of wax; a large percentage ofpigment, usually iron oxide or carbon pigmeht; and a modifier, such aspetroleum and chlorinated rubber, which serves as a binder.

In producing a transfer sheet by the indirect method, the ink from thetypewriter ribbon is transferred to the original sheet by the strikingof each typewriter key, as is the case with single-copy typing. Thetyped original is usable as such and may be mailed or routinely handledas an ordinary type ribbon copy. Reproductions of the orig inal can bemade by means of the present invention in view of the fact that aportion of the ink on the original will be transferred to thetransfersheet material by the application of pressure. To reproduce copies, theoriginal sheet and a transfer sheet are aligned in the paper tray withthe typed copy in contact with the coated surface of the transfer sheetand fed into the machine incorporating the present invention whereinhigh pressure is applied as the sheets are rolled through the pressurearea in the machine. This action transfers the ink from the original tothe transfer sheet. The transfer sheet is retained in the machine whilethe original is fed out. To make copies, a sheet of ordinary copy paperis placed in the feed tray where it is automatically registered with thecopy on the transfer sheet and then rolled through the pressure area ofthe machine. With the application of pressure, some of the ink istransferred from the transfer sheet to the copy sheet. This step may berepeated in order to produce any number of copy sheets, for example, tencopies or more, depending upon' the ink depth and porosity of the papersutilized.

Throughout this description, the front of the reproducing machine, seeFIG. 1, is regarded as that portion which the operator faces whileplacing sheet material on'tbe machine for the reproduction. The rightand left ends of the machine are regarded as being to the right and leftof the operator as he faces the machine.

Referring to FIG. 1, the reproducing machine 2 embodying the presentinvention is shown. The reproducing machine 2 includes a front cover 4and back cover 6. An input paper guide tray 7 is located in the topportion of the front cover 4 for inserting the transfer sheet andoriginal or copy sheet. Au indicator light 8 is mounted adjacent theinput paper tray to indicate that the machine is ready for operation. Athumb wheel 10 and number indicator wheel 12 are mounted on the righthand side of the machine for'dialing the number of copies desired. Apush button 14 for commencing operation of the machine is locatedadjacent the number wheel. A paper exit. guide 16 is located in thelower front portion of the machine.

In FIG. 2 the reproducing machine is shown with the covers removed. Themachine includes a base 18 having mounted thereon a pair of sidebrackets 20 one on each side of the machine. A drum 22 shown in FIG. 11includes a pair of end plates 24 each having a stud shaft 26 securedthereto. The drum 22 is mounted for rotation by the shafts 26 in theside brackets 20. Pivotally attached to each of the side brackets 20 isa side roll support 28, between which is mounted a pressure roller 30.The pressure roller 30 is preferably a solid piece of metal and has stubshafts 32 thereon for mounting in the side roll supports 28. Each of theside roll supports 28 is pivotally mounted on the side brackets 20 abouta shaft 34 secured thereto. The side roll supports 28 and the sidebrackets 20 are connected by means of a bolt 38 which is screwed intothe upper portion 36 of each side roll support 28. The bolts 38 aremounted through the upper portion 40 of the side brackets 20. A spring42 is mounted between the head of each bolt 38 and an upper portion 40of the side brackets 20, thereby forcing the side roll supports 28 andtherefore the pressure roller 30 into lineal pressure contact with thedrum 22.

The springs 42 are of relatively high strength in order to produceextremely high pressure contact between the pressure roller and thedrum, in order to produce linear pressure on the order of between to 300pounds per inch along the line of contact thereof.

The pressure roller 30 is mounted with the axis thereof substantiallyparallel to the axis of the drum, such that the roller 30 maintainsperipheral contact with the drum 22. As will be presently described, thepressure roller is crowned or formed such that the Peripheral diameteris larger at the center 'area, and tapering slightly toward the ends.

In FIG. 5, the crown configuration of the pressure roller 30 is shownschematically in relation to the drum. The tapered diameter from thecenter area, which is relatively fiat toward the ends of the roller, asshown, are exaggerated in order to facilitate description. Good resultshave been attained from a configuration wherein each tapered end of theroller is approximately one-third of the length of the roller as is thecenter area, and the difference in diameter between the ends and thecenter area is on the order of one or two thousandths of an inch for atwo and three-quarter inch diameter roller.

In operation of the machine during transfer there is a sheetof paper anda transfer sheet between the roller and the drum. An extremely highlinear pressure or force exists along the linear contact of the rollerand the drum with the paper and the transfer sheet there between astransmitted by the drum and pressure roller support shafts. Because thepaper and transfer sheet are compressible and also because'thesupporting shafts are beyond the edge of the paper and the transfersheet, the roller will be deflected; and if the pressure roller were ofstraight configuration, instead of crown, the pressure at the ends ofthe linear contact would be greater than at the center. The effect ofthis condition would be the production of copies that were darker at theedge portions of the copy sheet and lighter in the middle area. Inaddition, this uneven pressure axially along the drum produuces acomponent of force which runs axially inwardly along the linear contact,and this component of force will result in the sheet being processedbecoming wrinkled and creased out of shape.

With the provision of a crowned configuration to the pressure roller,the deflection of the roller caused by the extremely high pressure isbalanced thereby resulting in parallel linear surfaces for the linearcontact and even pressures throughout the contact. With the presence ofan even pressure, the transferred image will be even in contrast ordensity. In addition, the balanced or even pressure will eliminate theaxially directed component of force which would have produced wrinklingof the sheet.

The pressure roller 30 is driven by its frictional engagement with thedrum 22. With this arrangement of the support members 24), 28,relatively high pressures on the order of 175 to 300 pounds per linearinch may be achieved at the line of contact between the drum surface andthe surface of the pressure roller.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the linear force or pressurebetween the drum 22 and the pressure roller 30 is accomplished by theparticular arrangement of the drum 22, roller 30, and the springs 42..

Means are provided for guiding sheets of material such as transfer ofcopy sheets and originals into, through and out of the machine. Othermeans are also provided to establish a relationship between the sheetsfor effecting programmed handling as the various sheets are conveyedthrough the machine and include sheet registration devices and sheetclamping mechanisms. In guiding sheets of material into the machine, thepaper tray 7 is arranged above the machine to direct a single sheet ordouble sheets to the vicinity of the nip of the drum pressure rollerarrangement. The tray 7 is provided with flanges 46 at each edge thereoffor assisting in the lateral positioning of the sheets as the same arefed to the nip. An insert paper guide device 43, shown in FIG. 4, ismounted on the upper portions 36 of the side roller supports 28 fordirecting and assisting in the positioning of the sheets of paper. Ashutter 50, described below, is also provided for assisting in thepositioning of the sheet.

In emerging from the machine, the sheet of material is guided by thepaper exit guide mechanism generally indicated as 16. The paper exitguide 16 is pivotally mounted on the shafts 32, which, as previouslystated, support the pressure roller 30 for rotation upon the mahine.This paper exit guide mechanism includes an upper stripper 52 and alower stripper 54. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper stripper 52 is slidablymounted in the paper exit guide 16 and adjustable relative thereto. Thepaper stripper 52 has slots 53 which ride along bolts 55 mounted onguide 16. The bolts 55 in slots 53 are provided to permit adjustmentbetween the upper stripper 52 and the lower stripper 54 which is rigidlysecured to the guide 16. The upper and lower strippers are formed withtheir longitudinally edges adjacent the pressure roller 30 and the drum22 respectively. The strippers are preferably knife edged in their outerextremities. As a sheet or sheets of material are forced out by therotation of the drum and the pressure roller the sheet or sheets areprevented from adhering to the roller 30 and are stripped off thisroller by the stripper 52 and guided out the paper exit guide. The lowerstripper 54 is provided with slot 57 (see FIG. 16) to allow the transfergrippers and registration devices described below to pass there throughwith out interferring with the stripper 54. The lower stripper 54 servesto strip the original and each copy sheet from the transfer sheet in amanner to be described below. The lower stripper 54 also strips both thetransfer sheet and the last copy produced in the machine as describedbelow.

The strippers 52 and 54 on the paper exit guide 16 are maintained inoperative relation with the pressure roller 30 and the drum 22 by a pairof paper exit guide locks 56 (see FIGS. 2 and 9). The paper exit guidelocks 56 are pivotally mounted on end plates 58 of the paper guide exitguide 16 by means of pins 60 secured to plates 58. A slot 62 formedineach paper exit guide lock 56 engages a paper exit guide locking bracket64 secured on the base 18 thereby maintaining the strippers. 52 and 54in operative relation with the roller 30 and drum 22. A spring 66secured at one end to each of the plates 58 and at the other end to thelock 56 maintains each guide lock 56 in engagement with each bracket 64and against stops 68 mounted on the plates 58. The upper portion 70 ofeach guide lock is easily accessible from the front of the machine whenthe front covers are removed for permitting manipulation by the operatorof the locks 56. The locks 56 are adapted for rotation counterclockwiseas viewed in FIG. 9 for unlocking the paper exit guide 16, that isremoving of the bracket 64 from the slots 62, for allowing clockwiserotation of the end plates 58 and consequently the paper guide 16. Inthis manner should a paper jam occur at this point, the paper guide maybe removed to reposition the strippers 52 and 54 and permit clearing ofjammed material.

A first support bracket 72 is mounted on the base 11 at the rear thereofand a second support bracket 74 is mounted on the left hand side bracket20 (see FIG. 3). A motor MOT-1 for driving the drum 22, is supportedthereabove by a support clamp 78 secured on the first support bracket 72and by the second support bracket 74 secured on the bracket 20; Themotor MOT-1 is provided with a gear reduction mechanism 80 mountedbetween the motor and the support bracket 74. The motor drives the drum22 through a suitable chain 82 mounted between a drive gear 83 securedto the shaft of the motor and a sprocket 84 mounted on the left plate 24of the drum.

The motor MOT-1 is provided with means for controlling rotation of itsshaft and to serve as a brake for this. rotation. This means includes asolenoid SOL-1 mounted on the upper portion 40 of the right hand supportbracket 20 by a support member 88 and a braking device operable upon themotor when the solenoid is de-energized. The braking mechanism includesmotor clamp 90 mounted to the right hand side of the motor casing 91 forslidably supporting a brake shoe 92 which cooperates with a brake disc94 which is secured to the shaft of the motor to be rotated therewith.The solenoid SOL-1 is connected to brake shoe 92 for moving the sameinto and out of braking engagement with the brake disc 94 by means of alinkage comprising a brake link 96 connected to the solenoid armatureand the brake shoe 92. The link 96 projects through a suitable openingformed in the clamp 90 and is normally biased by .a spring 98 held incompression between the clamp 90 and shoe 92 in order to maintain theshoe 92 in engagement with the disc 94 when the solenoid SOL-1 isdeenergized. The brake shoe 92 is actuatable when the solenoid SOL-1 isenergized to become disengaged from the disc 94 to permit actuation ofthe motor drive and rotation of the drum, as will be discussed below.

The machine is provided with means for establishing positionable andoperative relationships between a transfer sheet and an original or copysheet which are introduced into the machine in order to effectprogrammed handling of the machine operation. These means include sheetregistration devices and clamping devices as Well as various operativemechanisms associated therewith.

Before commencing the description and operation of these devices, abrief outline of the sheet manipulation.

that occurs during the complete machine cycle will now be made. Duringthe first stage of operation of the machine both a blank transfer sheetand an original which has been typed or otherwise imprinted withappropriate ink formulation, which will readily transfer from one sheetto another by the application of extreme pressures, are inserted intothe nip of the drum-pressure roller combination. It is imperative atthis step that the transfer sheet be applied so that it will be incontact with the drum 22 during rotation thereof. Both the transfersheet and the original are driven through the nip of the drum-pressureroller and during the drive, which in this stage will be a singlerevolution of the drum, the transfer sheet will become clamped to thedrum and remains so while the original is immediately stripped anddirected out of the machine by means of the paper exit guide 16. Thus,the appropriate ink content on the original typed script or the imageareas is transferred to the transfer sheet forming a mirror image of theimage areas on the transfer sheet.

The next step in the cycle of operation requires the insertion into themachine of individual sheets of copy paper. During this stage the imageon the transfer sheet is transferred to each copy sheet as they areinserted individually in the machine. During each transfer, the transfersheet remains on the drum and the copy sheet is stripped out of themachine until the last programmed copy sheet has been made. As the lastcopy sheet is being stripped out, the transfer sheet is also beingremoved from the machine so that both sheets more or less are removedsubstantially simultaneously.

For automatically controlling positioning of the original sheet ofmaterial from which a transfer sheet will drive its inked image and forautomatic positioning of subsequently applied sheets of copy paper, thedrum 22 is provided with a plurality of registration devices 106 eachhaving a registration pin 108 against which the leading edges of copysheets or the original sheets abuts and which are arranged in a lineparallel to the axis of the drum but coincident with the peripherythereof. As shown in FIG. 13, the registration pin 108 extends radiallyof the drum beyond the periphery thereof and is formed with a forwardportion 110 which serves as a registration stop and against which theleading edge of an original or copy sheet is adapted to abut. The uppersurface 111 aids in the removal or stripping of the original or copysheet from the machine after a pressure transfer cycle. The registrationdevice 106 is adapted to slide within a cylindrical element 112 which istightly fitted into the openings 114 formed in the wall of the drum 22.As shown in FIG. 16, there are five registration devices mounted inopenings 114 in the drum 22. These registration devices are arranged ina line parallel to the axis of the drum so that the stops 110 will beadapted to engage the leading edge of the original or copy sheet.

Means are provided for slidably retracting each of the pins 108 withinthe cylindrical element 112 and thus each of the pins 108 is formed witha slot 116 through which a fixed retaining pin 118 projects forpermitting limited radial movement of pin 108 relative to the drum. Thepin 118 may be secured to the walls of the cylindrical element 112. Alift means in the form of a spring 120 normally held in compressionwithin the element 112 between a ledge 122 formed therein and the innersurface of the stop 110 normally biases the registration pin 108outwardly and the stop 110 slightly beyond the periphery of the drumsurface.

As shown in FIGS. 16, 17, and 18, the registration stops 110 are adaptedto engage a sheet of material such as copy paper or an original P. Thesheet P, when laid upon the paper tray 7, is guided by the chute 48 andwhen moved toward the nip of the drum-pressure roller combination isprevented from assuming any position except that shown in FIGS. 16 and17. The illustrated position as shown in FIG. 17 is that assumed by theoriginal P and the transfer sheet T just prior to initial operation of areproducing cycle. The forward edge of the sheet P is shown inengagement with the registration stop 110 which is held slightly inwardof the drum against the bias of the spring 120 by the pressure roller 30in engagement with the upper most points of the stops. The purpose ofthe registration stop is to position the copy sheet or original P alongthe nip of the drum-pressure roller combination prior to commencement ofthe operation of the machine. As the registration stops 110 are movedthrough the nip of the drum-pressure roller combination, they are forcedradially inwardly of the drum.

The drum 22 is also provided wtih a plurality of transfer sheet grippersgenerally indicated as 126 which serve to selectively clamp and supporta transfer sheet, designated by the letter T, to be the drum periphery.These transfer sheet grippers 126 are spaced alternately with theregistration device 106 and are arranged along a line parallel to thesedevices but spaced slightly forward therefrom. As shown in FIG. 16, thetransfer sheet T is formed with a scalloped support edge havingextensions 128 which are each applied to one of the grippers. Sincethere are four illustrated extensions 128 only four grippers arenecessary. It is also shown in FIG. 16 that the grippers 126 and theregistration devices 106 are arranged such that the scalloped edges 128of the transfer sheet T leads, or is forward of the leading edge of theoriginal or copy sheet P. The transfer sheet is provided with a waxcoating W for the purpose described above for use in the indirect methodof the pressure transfer process.

The details of one of the transfer sheet grippers are shown in FIGS. 14and 15. Each gripper includes a cylindrical insert 132 mounted in asuitable circular opening 134 formed in the wall of the drum 22 and isformed with a plate portion 135 bent across the open end of the insert.Each of the transfer sheet grippers 126 includes a clamping device 136rotatably mounted on a shaft 138 secured in the walls of cylindricalinsert 132. The grippers support the transfer sheet between the clampingdevices 136 and the surfaces 137 of the plate portions 135. A spring 140is mounted on the shaft 138 and serves to normally rotate the device 136to maintain the clamping device 136 in a closed position as shown inFIGS. 15 and 18. The gripping device 136 is formed with a portion 141that rotates therewith about the shaft 138 for aiding in the ejection ofthe transfer sheet from the machine as described below.

Each clamping device is provided with an extension arm 142 which has aroller 144 mounted on the extreme end thereof. The roller 144 is adaptedto ride on transfer lock pivot arms 146 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Thepivot arms 146 are mounted on a shaft 148 mounted within the drum 22 onand between the side plates 24 in parallelism with the axis of the drum.Rotation of shaft 148 and consequently the levers 146 is effected by atransfer lock shaft actuator 150 secured to the shaft externally of thedrum at one end thereof (see FIG. 11). The actuator 150, in turn, isrotated by a programming mechanism to be described hereinafter which isoperable upon a roller 152 which is mounted on the end of the actuator150.

As the roller 152 is contacted by the programming mechanism, thetransfer lock shaft actuator 150 rotates the shaft 148 thereby pivotingthe arms 146 in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 12. Each of thearms 146 contacts one of the rollers 144 mounted on the extension arm142 of the clamping device 136 and rotates this arm in acounterclockwise direction about the shaft 138 against the biasingaction of the spring 140. This, in turn, will rotate the device 136about the shaft 138 for releasing the extensions 128 of the transfersheet T. The clamping devices 136, which remain in a normally closedposition, are opened twice during the operation of the last reproductioncycle. They are opened when the machine comes to and remains at rest asshown in FIG. 17 thereby in condition for accepting a transfer sheetprior to operation of the machine. The clamping devices are also openedduring the last cycle of operation at which time the gripper is openedby the programming mechanism to positively position the transfer sheetto be stripped out of the machine along with the last copy sheet made.

The reproduction machine is provided with a programmer mechanism 160, asshown in FIG, 9, which controls the operation of the machine once it isset in motion and in cooperation with a copy counting mechanism, a copyindicating mechanism, and an electrical control circuit. The programmermechanism 160 illustrated in operative detail in FIGS. 21-24, is locatedon the right-hand side of the machine and comprises a number of controllevers which assume various motions and positions during a single andcomplete reproduction cycle. Such a reproduction cycle requires at leasttwo complete rotations of the drum 22, one to produce a mirror image onthe transfer sheet and one revolution to produce one copy from thetransfer sheet. The structure of the programmer mechanism and the copyindicating mechanism is such that every produced copy desired requiresone full rotation of the drum. For any series or multiple copy program,there will be as many drum rotations as there are programmed copies tobe made plus one additional rotation to produce the transfer sheet.

The machine is shown in the normally off position in FIGS. 4, 6, 7, 8,9, and 10. The machine in this position is ready to be programmed foroperation and ready for actuation of the programmer mechanism and thepush button 14.

After the thumb wheel has been set, as described below, the push button14 is then ready for operation. The indicator light 8 is turned on asdescribed below, indicating that the machine is ready to accept atransfer heat and an original.

The push button 14 is provided with slots 162 therein which ride onfixed pins 164 as it is depressed. The push button 14 is normally heldin the outward position as shown in FIG. 9 by a spring 166 mounted inone of the slots 162 between the pins 164 and an internal surface of thebutton. The pins 164 are mounted on a bracket 168 which also supportsthe button 14. The bracket 168 has a retaining element 170 that contactsa stepped portion 172 formed on the push button for positioning andretaining the same in the bracket 168.

The push button 14 is formed with a cam surface 174 which is adapted tooperate a shutter gripper release link 176 in the form of a bellcrankpivotally mounted upon a pivot 178 secured to the bracket 168. A roller180, mounted on the adjacent end of the bellcrank 176, rides a camsurface 174 as the button is depressed until it contacts an inclinedstep portion 175 thereon for rocking the bellcrank about the pivot pin178. The other end of the bellcrank 176 contacts one end of a gripperlock 182 also in the form of a bellcrank pivotally mounted about a pivotpin 184 secured to a bracket 186, The bracket 186 is secured by a flange187 to the right-hand side bracket (see FIG. 7) in order to maintain thepivot pin 184 for the gripper lock in a fixed position. The gripper lock182 is biased by a spring 188 secured between the other end of thegripper lock bellcrank 182 and the bracket 186 in the counterclockwisedirection as shown in FIG. 9 in order to maintain the other end of thelock 182 in engagement with the adjacent end of the link 176.

It will be understood that as the link 176 is rotated by the engagementof the roller 180 upon the step 175 will produce clockwise rotation ofthe bellcrank lock 182.

One edge of the gripper lock 182 normally engages a transfer cam locklink pin 190 mounted on a transfer cam lock link 192 by the biasingaction of the spring 188. The transfer cam lock link 192 is pivotallymounted on a pivot pin 194 secured in a fixed position on the right-handside roll support 28.

With the bellcrank 176 held in a fixed position by the engagement of theroller 180 to the cam surface 174, the bellcrank 182 is also fixed andthereby remains normally locked against the pin 190. Locking of the pin190 prevents movement of the link 192 in the clockwise rotation. Uponthe release of the pin 190 by depression of the button 14, the link 192is free to rotate in a clockwise direction.

The transfer cam lock link 192 serves a dual function: (1) to close thetransfer grippers 126 and (2) to retract the shutter 50. Inaccomplishing this first function, the transfer cam lock link 192 isoperatively associated with a transfer insert actuator lever 196pivotally mounted on a pin 198 secured to the right-hand side support20. The upper end of the lever 196 is formed with a cam edge 199 adaptedfor engagement with a roller 202 mounted on the extreme end of the lever192. A spring 204 attached to the base 18 and the lever 196 maintainsthe cam edge 199 in contact with the roller 202 for all positions of theele ments 192 and 196. A spring 206 attached between the transfer camlock link 192 and the transfer insert actuator lever 196 normally biasesthe link in a clockwise direction and accomplishes this withoutaffecting the action of the spring 204 in keeping the cam edge 199 onthe roller 202. The roller 202 on transfer cam lock link moves along thecam surface 199 of the transfer insert actuator lever 196 for impartinglimited rocking movement of the latter. At the lower end of the lever196, there is formed a cam surface 207 which is adapted to engage theroller 152 on the actuator 150.

As will be described below, during a stage of the reproduction cycle,the roller 152 will engage the surface 207 which limits movement of theroller to produce a slight rotation of the actuator to open the clampingdevices 126 to the position shown in FIG. 17.

In the event the link 192 is rotated clockwise the roller 202 will slidedownwardly along the cam surface 199 for permitting counterclockwiserotation by the lever 196 byat he spring 204 to remove the surface 207from the path of movement of the roller 152 thereby permittingunrestricted closing of the clamping devices 126' by means of thesprings 140.

During the second function of the lock link 192 in retracting theshutter 50, the lock link 192 releases a shutter actuator link 208 fromits normally held position as shown in FIG. 9, wherein the shutter link208 holds the shutter 50 in a releasably held position. In order toaccomplish this action, the lock link 192 is pivotally connected by apin 210 to one end of the shutter link 208 which is pivotally connectedby a pin 211 at the other end to a paper guide shutter actuator 212secured to the shutter 50 (see FIGS. 9 .and 10). The shutter 50 issupported for rotation about the shaft 32 of roller 30 by the shutteractuator 212 one mounted on each end thereof.

As the pin is released by the rock-ing of the gripper lever lock 182,the transfer cam lock link 192 will rot-ate in a clockwise directionthereby moving the shutter link 208 out of a releasably fixed positionprovided by its contact with a pin 213 mounted on the drum 22 as shownin FIG. 9. When the machine is not in operation, the pin 213 abuts theadjacent end of the link 208 to maintain the same and the actuator 212in the position shown in FIG. 9 wherein the shutter 50 is in a closedposition as shown in FIG. 17. While in a closed position, the shutter 50serves as a paper guide along with the paper guide 48.

As the link 192 is rotated in a clockwise movement, it moves the link208 out of interferring relation with the pin 213, wherein the link 208is free to swing to the right from the position shown-in FIG. 21 to theposition shown in FIG. 22, as indicated by the arrow. This action ispos- :sible by the provision of the pivot pins 210, 211 and the slot 214formed in the actuator 212 and adapted to accommodate the pin 211.Swinging of the link 208 to the right produces limited rotation of theactuator 212 for opening the shutter 50 to the position shown in FIG.18. As shown in FIG. 4, the paper guide shutter 50 is biased by a spring222 in the counterclockwise direction to normally hold the shutter inits open position. The spring 222 may be mounted on a bracket 224attached to the

